BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Local elections officials are supporting a statement issued by their statewide association, asking candidates and elected officials to tone down rhetoric that could erode confidence in elections. The Florida Supervisors of Elections issued a statement on Oct. 20, saying that because of misinformation and disinformation after the 2020 elections, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— David Dagenais was sworn in as the newest board member of the Keystone Heights Airport before the board’s Oct. 5 meeting. He holds the Bradford County seat on the board. When introducing himself to his new colleagues, Dagenais said he has been involved in aviation since high school, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor GREEN COVE SPRINGS— Clay County’s tourism director said the county set a new record in bed tax collections during the second quarter of 2021. Kimberly Morgan told the Tourist Development Council that the county’s five percent tax on hotel stays through the first six months of 2021 equaled the entire … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — Starke restaurants are planning moves, one of which will solve one of the city’s biggest code enforcement problems. Police Chief Jeff Johnson updated the city commission on the plans during its recent meeting. According to the chief, the Subway restaurant on South Temple Avenue next to Sonny’s … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — The Starke City Commission has adjusted water and sewer rates over several years to ensure the utilities were covering their costs, but additional adjustments are needed to fund system improvements and upkeep. With more than $20 million in grant and loan funding from the USDA, the sewer … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — Florida Municipal Power Agency’s Pooled Loan Program could provide funding for utility projects in the city of Starke. While loan proceeds were included in this year’s budget, a loan application has not been submitted. Operations Director Scott Anaheim, who has been researching the process, said he doesn’t … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — The city of Starke is moving forward with redistricting and try to get it done before the 2022 election. Attorney Clay Martin reviewed the history and his research with the commission on Oct. 19. While the city hasn’t redistricted since the single-member districts were established some 30 … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A 33-year old Starke man was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading to hitting two children riding bicycles in Lawtey and then leaving the scene. Bjee Martin Fisher pleaded no contest to the April 26 offenses of failing to remain at a crash site involving serious bodily injury. According to a Lawtey police report, Fisher was driving … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A 12-year-old boy was stranded on the floating dock at Keystone Beach for over an hour Saturday as a five-foot-alligator swam nearby. Shawn Baker was rescued by Donald Sharp and another man after Sharp waded out to the platform and used a buoy rope to pull the dock … Read more
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor STARKE — The sign may be dated, but it is finally relevant. The new “Holiday Inn is Coming Soon.” Work began to clear the lot at the corner of U.S. 301 and Southeast 145th Terrace. Here, the entrance to the Lincoln City community, is located across the highway from … Read more
